Rottsy, you are absolutely right, I'm just jealous that I don't have AOL. I sure wish I did, but we're locked into this cable modem through Comcast for the next 12 months.
I DON'T BLAME YOU for being green with envy. I can put sounds in my email like birds chirping and stuff and stationary in the background and I'm listening to One hit wonders on Radio AOL right now. When was the last time you heard Pilot sing Magic? huh? I'm in AOL heaven.
This is just the coolest thing ever invented. Life just can't get any better than this!!!!!
I don't understand the attitude toward A-O-Hell. My old boss had it, and I thougth it worked quite well. Plus they have online customer service, which I thought was the bomb. It shows great customer service because you can get almost instant help without holding for 15 20 or 30 minutes on the phone.
Agreed Wayfer! AOL has some wonderful features, and the customer service can be top of the line. That is NOT to say I haven't had some bad experiences with AOL customer service. But I remember trying EarthStink, er Earthlink like 5 years ago and it was AWFUL.
First of all they tell you that you get like 7 screen names, then after you sign up you find out you have to pay like 5 bucks a month for each screen name!!!!
And trying to get through to their customer service was impossible. I don't even know if they had anybody live working for them.
A friend of mine at the time told me that EarthStink's customer service was where AOL was at 5 years ago.
I've had mostly okay experiences with AOL, but a couple of weeks ago I needed their help. Some Wacko woman wrote my FULL name and town and state in her husbands member profile and said I was cheating with her husband.
Long story. And no I wasn't. She's a nut job. Anyway, I reported the profile numerous times to AOL with no results, finally I called them up and waited on the phone for about 20 minutes and I got a very polite customer service rep...WHO COULDN'T SPEAK ENGLISH!!!!
She couldn't understand for the love of god what I was trying to communicate to her. She kept telling me about protecting my password, then about blocking emails.
Arrrrrgh!!! It's funny now but I was so damned frustrated at the time I wanted to scream.
Anyway, the profile is now deleted, I'm not sure if the nutty woman deleted it, or her husband or AOL. But for awhile there I was actually thinking about contacting some lawyers. I know AOL isn't responsible for the content that some of their members may put online, but I would think that they would be responsible for not deleting libelous (is that a word?) content that one member is writing about another member in a public profile, after I had contacted them numerous times.
But I still think AOL is better than others! I do I do!!!
You pay extra for the extra screenames? Not on my bill. I am running 8.), haven't gotten around to switching to 9, but I have never heard of extra charges for the 7 screenames.
By the way, if you belong to AARP there is a discount for AOL dial up access. I think it is 10%. keyword AARP should have the info.
~I am still looking for a reason to leave AOL, but haven't found it yet. It may come when I switch to highspeed instead of dial-up, but I haven't a clue yet what that reason would be.
HAP I didn't know that about aol discounting seniors. I'm not there for another 20 years or so!! But thanks for the info.
It's Earthstink (Earthlink) that charges extra for extra screen names, not AOL. That's one of the many cool benefits of AOL, the multiple screennames and email addresses and stuff.
I think I must have "slipped through the cracks", cause I started on aol 4.0 (from one of those "free 45 day, 1025 hours" cd's, and have never been billed. Ever. That was over 3 years ago.
I even have a different puter now, and have downloaded aol 5.0 from aol, and still have never received a bill.
9.0 might be nice, but I am comfortable where I am!!
Miller comes from my paternal grandfather's side. His dad emigrated from Germany, and the name was Mueller. They changed it when they reached America to Miller.
We have AOL 9.0. I like it--except when I get cut off, which isn't that often.
I like the kids accounts. All mine have their own accounts. I can monitor them if I feel I need to, they can't surf into adult sites, they don't get porn spam in their junk mail.
Yes, I like Aol radio--they don't do commercials. My yahoo radio streams for awhile, and then puts out the commercials.
Fred and I have been on aol since early 90's -- more than 10 years.
Upgrading aol was a real problem because it would add the new program, and not replace it -- and then aol would go back through the old programs for files really slow.
And if you tried to remove the old programs you lost Internet Explorer. No solution except to reformat the hard drive.
But Fred really likes the upgrades.
I don't know. I guess I need to reformat the hard drive and install aol 9.0.
There is absolutely no reason you should have to reformat your hardrive to install AOL upgrades. I do recommend closing every running task except explorer and systray before doing the upgrade, but I have never had a problem with the upgrades. (even when many had problems going to version 5 or 6 a few years ago)
I also recommend installing it from a CD rather than a download version. The only time I have heard of people losing IE was when they used a download upgrade and chose to do a minimal download, bypassing the newer IE download. (IE is a LLOOONNNGGGG download time) I always tell it to transfer my existing settings, and to copy (not move) my old downloads and filing cabinet.
After installing, and checking that everything is working and all my favorites and filing cabinet have been put into the new version, I usually remove (from within the Windows Control Panel) one earlier version, and keep the last version I was using. That way I always have two copies (the latest, and the last previous version) of AOL available, in case there is a problem with the latest version you can always go back to the last one you used. I have never needed to use this ability however.
If you have questions about installing the new version, you should call, or contact online, their helpdesk folks. Upgrades should go easy if you take the time to read the prompts and understand them.
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GarthP2000
AO-Hell?!? **ACCKKKK**
:P--> 
But to be fair, AOL does have its positive uses, really it does, .....
..... like using its CDs for coffee coasters. Recorded side UP for the used coffee cup to sit right on it. Get a set of 6.
:)-->
..... or using them for skeet shoots. ..... "Pull!" ... **BAMM**
..... or using them for bulls-eye target practice. Just take the CD and paint it red. ...... (aiming at the CD from 100 paces ... **BOOM**)
..... frisbees! Now there is a fun toy for all ages. As well as for your dog to slobber all over.
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Steve!
For technogeeks, AOL is the internet on training wheels.
But I know a *lot* of people who really love it. Hey, whatever floats your boat!
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RottieGrrrl
I think Your all just jealous that you don't have AOL!!! pphhht!
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WhiteDove
Rottie
I don't have AOL either but I'm glad you are enjoying yours. Keep Nico out of those Chat Rooms and the online pizza delivery.
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RottieGrrrl
I'm just a grooven to Radio AOL right now. Whew! Too cool for one person to handle!!!!
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Steve!
Rottsy, you are absolutely right, I'm just jealous that I don't have AOL. I sure wish I did, but we're locked into this cable modem through Comcast for the next 12 months.
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RottieGrrrl
I DON'T BLAME YOU for being green with envy. I can put sounds in my email like birds chirping and stuff and stationary in the background and I'm listening to One hit wonders on Radio AOL right now. When was the last time you heard Pilot sing Magic? huh? I'm in AOL heaven.
This is just the coolest thing ever invented. Life just can't get any better than this!!!!!
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Nottawayfer
I don't understand the attitude toward A-O-Hell. My old boss had it, and I thougth it worked quite well. Plus they have online customer service, which I thought was the bomb. It shows great customer service because you can get almost instant help without holding for 15 20 or 30 minutes on the phone.
Yahoomessenger has music now. I use that at work.
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RottieGrrrl
Agreed Wayfer! AOL has some wonderful features, and the customer service can be top of the line. That is NOT to say I haven't had some bad experiences with AOL customer service. But I remember trying EarthStink, er Earthlink like 5 years ago and it was AWFUL.
First of all they tell you that you get like 7 screen names, then after you sign up you find out you have to pay like 5 bucks a month for each screen name!!!!
And trying to get through to their customer service was impossible. I don't even know if they had anybody live working for them.
A friend of mine at the time told me that EarthStink's customer service was where AOL was at 5 years ago.
I've had mostly okay experiences with AOL, but a couple of weeks ago I needed their help. Some Wacko woman wrote my FULL name and town and state in her husbands member profile and said I was cheating with her husband.
Long story. And no I wasn't. She's a nut job. Anyway, I reported the profile numerous times to AOL with no results, finally I called them up and waited on the phone for about 20 minutes and I got a very polite customer service rep...WHO COULDN'T SPEAK ENGLISH!!!!
She couldn't understand for the love of god what I was trying to communicate to her. She kept telling me about protecting my password, then about blocking emails.
Arrrrrgh!!! It's funny now but I was so damned frustrated at the time I wanted to scream.
Anyway, the profile is now deleted, I'm not sure if the nutty woman deleted it, or her husband or AOL. But for awhile there I was actually thinking about contacting some lawyers. I know AOL isn't responsible for the content that some of their members may put online, but I would think that they would be responsible for not deleting libelous (is that a word?) content that one member is writing about another member in a public profile, after I had contacted them numerous times.
But I still think AOL is better than others! I do I do!!!
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HAPe4me
You pay extra for the extra screenames? Not on my bill. I am running 8.), haven't gotten around to switching to 9, but I have never heard of extra charges for the 7 screenames.
By the way, if you belong to AARP there is a discount for AOL dial up access. I think it is 10%. keyword AARP should have the info.
~I am still looking for a reason to leave AOL, but haven't found it yet. It may come when I switch to highspeed instead of dial-up, but I haven't a clue yet what that reason would be.
~HAP
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RottieGrrrl
HAP I didn't know that about aol discounting seniors. I'm not there for another 20 years or so!! But thanks for the info.
It's Earthstink (Earthlink) that charges extra for extra screen names, not AOL. That's one of the many cool benefits of AOL, the multiple screennames and email addresses and stuff.
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dmiller
I'm on Aol 5.0, and it works just fine.
I think I must have "slipped through the cracks", cause I started on aol 4.0 (from one of those "free 45 day, 1025 hours" cd's, and have never been billed. Ever. That was over 3 years ago.
I even have a different puter now, and have downloaded aol 5.0 from aol, and still have never received a bill.
9.0 might be nice, but I am comfortable where I am!!
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RottieGrrrl
YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN BILLED FOR AOL???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Holy Moses on a mountiantop. dmiller, I'M not going to call the AOL police on you, but if that's true I would definitly not spread that around. Truly.
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dmiller
I tell the truth, and I have posted it before. I am willing to pay them, but so far, (alas, sigh,
-->) they have not seen fit to charge me. 
:(-->
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RottieGrrrl
All I can say is you have the luck of the Irish.
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dmiller
The eleventh commandment perhaps??
Thou shalt pay aol fees.
;)--> 
;)-->
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dmiller
I'm of Scottish heritage, and German also.
Someone, somewhere, is looking out for me.
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dmiller
BTW -- the "family name" is Mac Ewen, and I am on a Mac. Might be what makes the difference.
:)-->
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dmiller
Miller comes from my paternal grandfather's side. His dad emigrated from Germany, and the name was Mueller. They changed it when they reached America to Miller.
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Bramble
We have AOL 9.0. I like it--except when I get cut off, which isn't that often.
I like the kids accounts. All mine have their own accounts. I can monitor them if I feel I need to, they can't surf into adult sites, they don't get porn spam in their junk mail.
Yes, I like Aol radio--they don't do commercials. My yahoo radio streams for awhile, and then puts out the commercials.
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Kit Sober
Fred and I have been on aol since early 90's -- more than 10 years.
Upgrading aol was a real problem because it would add the new program, and not replace it -- and then aol would go back through the old programs for files really slow.
And if you tried to remove the old programs you lost Internet Explorer. No solution except to reformat the hard drive.
But Fred really likes the upgrades.
I don't know. I guess I need to reformat the hard drive and install aol 9.0.
Thanks for saying it's worth it.
Kit
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HAPe4me
Kit-
There is absolutely no reason you should have to reformat your hardrive to install AOL upgrades. I do recommend closing every running task except explorer and systray before doing the upgrade, but I have never had a problem with the upgrades. (even when many had problems going to version 5 or 6 a few years ago)
I also recommend installing it from a CD rather than a download version. The only time I have heard of people losing IE was when they used a download upgrade and chose to do a minimal download, bypassing the newer IE download. (IE is a LLOOONNNGGGG download time) I always tell it to transfer my existing settings, and to copy (not move) my old downloads and filing cabinet.
After installing, and checking that everything is working and all my favorites and filing cabinet have been put into the new version, I usually remove (from within the Windows Control Panel) one earlier version, and keep the last version I was using. That way I always have two copies (the latest, and the last previous version) of AOL available, in case there is a problem with the latest version you can always go back to the last one you used. I have never needed to use this ability however.
If you have questions about installing the new version, you should call, or contact online, their helpdesk folks. Upgrades should go easy if you take the time to read the prompts and understand them.
~HAP
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